Education Pt.1: Coturnix Quail Incubation: A No-Drama Guide.

Coturnix (Japanese) quail are the sprinters of the poultry world—fast to incubate, fast to hatch, and wonderfully consistent when you control a few key variables. Below is a straightforward, field-tested approach for dependable hatches, followed by three myths we hear all the time (and why they’re wrong).

The Short Version (what actually matters)

• Target hatch window: ~16 days (some lines 16–18).

• Temperature: 99.8°F in forced-air; do not exceed 101°F.

• Humidity: run about 40–50% RH through day 13; raise to ≥50% RH for hatch.

• Turning: 4–6×/day (or auto-turn) through day 13.

• Lockdown: day 14 (stop turning, bump humidity, open vents).

• Egg handling & storage: Set clean, unwashed eggs; store large end up in cool, stable conditions and try to set within 7–14 days.

  
  

Step-by-Step: From Egg to Pipping Chick (Zero G checklist)

1) Collect, select, store

Pick normal-shaped, sound-shelled eggs and skip the dirty or damaged ones. Store large end up in a clean carton, cool room, and steady humidity.

2) Pre-flight: incubator setup ****All incubators LIE***

Calibrate your thermometer/hygrometer at egg height. Set 99.8°F and confirm your venting brings in fresh air without big temp swings. Place the incubator where room temps are steady.

****All incubators LIE!****

3) Days 1–13: cruise conditions

Hold ~40–50% RH and turn 4–6×/day (auto-turner preferred). Quick candling checkpoints are fine and help you verify development and air-cell growth, however we do not recommend doing it often during the incubation process (less is more).

4) Day 14: lockdown

Pull the turner, raise humidity to ≥50%, open vents more, and add a non-slip liner. From here, hands off unless you have a specific reason to intervene. Most Coturnix will “touch down” around day 16.

5) Hatch & first 48 hours

Let chicks dry and fluff before moving to the brooder. Have your brooder pre-heated, bedding down, and feed/water ready so you’re not scrambling at T-0. We recommend leaving them in for at-least 36 hours prior to removal, however we don't recomend leaving them in past 48hrs.

3 Incubation Myths—Busted (with sources)

Myth #1: “Wash dirty hatching eggs—cleaner is better.”

Reality: Don’t wash hatching eggs. Washing strips the natural cuticle and can force bacteria through shell pores, which reduces hatchability. Set only naturally clean eggs.

• Learn more: Mississippi State University — “Washing of Hatching Eggs.” extension.msstate.edu

  
  

Myth #2: “Opening the incubator during hatch always shrink-wraps chicks.”

Reality: “Shrink-wrapping” (membrane drying tight around a pipped chick) is mainly a humidity-management problem. A fast, careless lid-open in a dry room can cause a humidity crash and trouble—but a brief, purposeful open in a reasonably humid room with humidity restored quickly is not automatic doom. Focus on stable hatch humidity and quick recovery, not superstition.

• Manufacturer guidance on humidity drops and shrink-wrap risk: Brinsea — “Mastering Incubator Humidity.” brinsea.com

  
  

Myth #3: “Orientation doesn’t matter—store eggs pointy end up.”

Reality: Orientation matters. Store and set large end up to keep the air cell stable and the embryo positioned correctly.

• Large-end-up guidance: University of Maryland Extension — “Hatching Eggs at Home (FS-1114).” extension.umd.edu

• Air-cell basics: Penn State Extension — “Proper Handling of Eggs: From Hen to Consumption.” extension.psu.edu

  
  

Troubleshooting Quick Hits (mission control notes)

• Late hatches / weak chicks: Re-check calibration and confirm the actual egg-top temperature is near 99.8°F (small drifts matter).

• Sticky chicks / oversized air cells: Humidity likely ran low over time—track air-cell growth earlier next round, not just at lockdown.

• Across-the-board poor hatch: Review egg age/storage and sanitation first, then temperature stability, turning frequency, and ventilation. The more consistent everything is the better you're hatch will be.

  
  

  Final Approach

  Dial in the basics—clean, unwashed eggs, steady 99.8°F, smart humidity, and lockdown on day 14, and Coturnix will do what they do best: hatch like clockwork. Keep simple notes each run and tweak one variable at a time; your numbers will climb fast.

  
  

  If you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments and we’ll troubleshoot with you. If you’re part of the Zero G crew, keep an eye on the members area for deeper dives, schedules, and hands-on hatching resources. See you at hatch day.